RITUALS WITH RESPONSIBILITY

How to Celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi the Sustainable Way

- By Gauri Ghadge

A smart, culturally rooted guide to celebrating the festival with eco-friendly idols, zero-waste practices, and conscious devotion, without losing the spirit of tradition.

A FESTIVAL THAT ECHOES THROUGH GENERATIONS

Each year, as the rhythmic beats of the dhol fill the air and the scent of incense mingles with fresh marigolds, Goa prepares for one of its most beloved festivals, Ganesh Chaturthi, locally celebrated as Chovoth. But in the midst of fervent devotion and grandeur, a quieter question is beginning to echo louder: Can we honour Lord Ganesha without harming the very nature he symbolises?

THE ANSWER IS A RESOUNDING YES.

Goa, with its deep-rooted cultural practices and ecological richness, is uniquely poised to lead by example. A growing wave of conscious celebration - from natural clay idols to zerowaste households is redefining what it means to be truly devoted.

THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTER

Traditionally, Ganesh idols were sculpted using shadu mati (natural clay), a biodegradable material easily returned to the earth. However, over the decades, the rise of Plaster of Paris (POP) idols has caused serious environmental distress. PoP contains chemicals like gypsum, sulphur, and phosphorus, which do not dissolve in water, pollute rivers, and kill aquatic life during visarjan (immersion).

A 2019 study by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) highlighted that lakes and rivers near major immersion sites showed alarming spikes in heavy metals like lead and chromium post-festival season. Goa was no exception.

Recognising this, the Goa State Pollution Control Board has now banned the use of PoP idols. Only eco-friendly materials, such as clay, papier mache, or cow dung, are permitted.

Local artisans have adapted, reviving older sculpting techniques and even innovating with seed-infused idols that grow into plants after immersion.